Retarded-release triple-valve device.



W. V. TURNER. RETARDED RELEASE TRIPLE VALVE DEVICE. APPLICATION FILEDAue.12. 1908.

1 ,11. BLA-BL Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

?. INVENTOR WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGm" D. C.

UNITED STA N orrio.

WALTER V. TURNER, OF EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING-HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1908. Serial No. 448,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVALTER V. TURNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Edgewood, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements inRetarded-Release Triple-Valve Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to fluid pressure brakes, and more particularlyto a triple valve device having means for retarding the release of thebrakes at the head end of a train, in order to secure a more uniformrelease of the brakes throughout the train.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a valve for controlling theexhaust of air from the brake cylinder, having a full release positionand a retarded release position in which the opening from the brakecylinder to the atmosphere through the exhaust port is nearly or quiteclosed. A yielding resistance means such as a spring has been used whichis adapted to oppose the movement of the exhaust valve and operatingpiston from the full to the retarded release position, so that at thehead end of the train where the increase in train pipe pressure torelease the brakes is more pronounced, the triple valve pistons areforced over to their extreme inner positions against the opposing springpressure, thereby restricting the exhaust opening from the brakecylinder and retarding the release of the brakes. At the rear end of thetrain, however, the increase in train pipe pressure is not sufficient toovercome the resistance of the spring device, and so the triple valvepistons are moved only to their full release positions, in which thebrake cylinder freely exhausts to the atmosphere. In these priorconstructions the yielding resistance spring is attached to and projectsout from the rear end of the triple valve casing where there is more orless liability to damage from rough handling and shipping.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide an improvedretarded release triple valve device of the above character, wherein theyielding resistance means or spring may be carried by the moving partsof the valve mechanism within the casing so as to produce a simplecompact and durable structure which may be readily packed,

shipped and handled without liability of 111] ury.

Another object is to so locate the resistance spring that the increasedtrain pipe pressure acting on the triple valve piston to release brakesis transmitted through the spring to the main valve whereby an auxiliaryvalve actuated by the piston may be employed for controlling andretarding the release from the brake cylinder.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a central sectional view of atriple valve device embodying a preferred form of my invention andshowing the parts in normal full release position; Fig. 2 a similarview, showing the triple valve parts in the retarded release position;Fig. 3 a similar view showing the parts in service application position; Fig. 4 a sectional view of a portion of the triple valve on theline aa of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 a fragmentary sectional view of the mainslide valve and the auxiliary or graduating valve, illustrating aconstruction wherein the exhaust from the brake cylinder may be entirelyclosed in the retarded release position.

The triple valve device illustrated in the drawings comprises a casing1, having piston chamber 2 containing triple valve piston 3, and valvechamber 4 containing main slide valve 5 and auxiliary or graduatingvalve 6, mounted on and having a movement relative to the main slidevalve, said valve being operated by the piston 3. The valve chamber 4 isadapted to be in open communication with the auxiliary reservoir, andthe piston chamber 2 communicates with the train brake pipe in the usualmanner.

I preferably employ the auxiliary or graduating valve 6 for controllingthe exhaust from the brake cylinder in the retarded release position andaccordingly a stop lug 7, attached to a supporting spider 8, may beprovided for engaging the main slide valve 6 so as to prevent inwardmovement thereof beyond the full release position.

The main slide valve is provided with ports 9 and 10, which are adaptedto register respectively with brake cylinder port 11 and exhaust port 12in full release position, and

the graduating valve 6 has a cavity 13, forconnecting the ports 9 and 10in full release position, and a restricted portion 14 for re reslstancemeans such as spring 16 is prostricting the exhaust opening in theretarded release position. If desired the restricted portion may bedispensed with and the exhaust entirely closed in retarded releaseposition as shown in Fig. 5.

The auxiliary slide valve is mounted to be moved positively by thepiston and both have a movement relative to the main slide valve forcontrolling the release from the brake cylinder, there being a normalfull release position, as shown in Fig. 1, and afurw I ther inwardmovement of the piston and the auxiliary slide valve to a position forretarding the release, as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of opposing the movement of the piston and auxiliaryexhaust valve from normal full release position to a position forretarding the release a yielding ton, one end of the spring bearingagainst the forward wall of the recess and the other end against a head17 having a central guide 18 and lateral-projections or wings 19 whichextend through side slots 23 and engage the wings 21 of the main slidevalve 5 when in normal full release position or whenever the piston isoperated by the action of train pipe pressure to move the valvemechanism to release brakes. Y

WVhen the piston is operated in the opposite direction by a reduction intrain pipe pressure for applying brakes the projections 19 move awayfrom the wings 21 as the piston and auxiliary slide valve move forwardrelative to the main slide valve and the head 17 then engages with therear end wall of' the recess 15 in the piston or stem.

The head 17 with projections 19 engaging the wings 21 of the main slidevalve forms a fixed stop for the rear end of the retarding spring in thefull release position of the valve mechanism.

The system being charged with air under pressure in the usual manner,when a service reduction is made in train pipe pressure the piston withauxiliary slide valve move forward under the preponderating auxiliaryreservoir pressure, closing feed groove 20, uncovering port 22 andclosing port 9, then as the lost motion between the piston and mainslide valve is taken up the head of the piston stem engages the mainslide valve and both move together to the service position in which theservice port 22 registers with port 11 leading to the brake cylinder andair flows from the auxiliary reservoir to the brake cylinder to applythe brakes in the usual manner, as shown in Fig; 3. As the auxiliaryreservoir pressure falls slightly below that in the train pipe thepiston with the auxiliary slide valve and spring 16 move back to lapposition in which the projections 19 engagethe wings 21 of the mainslide valve and the service port-22 is'closed,

\Vhen the train pipe pressure is increased in the usual manner forreleasingbrakesthis pressure acting onthe piston is transmitted throughthe spring 16 and head 17 to the main slide valve 5 thereby moving thevalve mechanism toward" full release position in which the main valveengages the stop 7 and prevents further inward movement of the mainvalve. This also forms a fixed stop for the-head 17 as it engagesthemain valve. At; the forward end of thetrain the waveof increasedpressure in the train pipe acting on the triple pistons is much greatercomparatively than toward the rear of the train and is sufficient tocause the pistons and auxiliary slide valves on the forward cars tocon-V tinue to move inward after the main valve is against the stop,thereby compressing the spring 16 and moving the auxiliary slide valveto a retarded release position in which the release from the brakecylinder is more or less restricted as shown in Fig. 2, or in which theexhaust from the brake cylinder: may be entirely closed if desired,asshown in Fig. 5. On cars toward the rear of the train however theincrease in train pipe pressure is not suflicient to vcompress theretard-c ing spring 16, consequently the triplevalve mechanism on therear cars move only to the normal full release position in which theexhaust from the brake cylinder is fully open as illustrated in Fig. 1.As the triple valves on the forward cars move much more promptly thanupon the rear cars it will be seen that by thus retarding the release onthe forward cars armuch' more uniform release of the brakes throughoutthe train is secured, then as the pressure equalizes upon the triplepistons at the forward end the springs 16 operate to return the pistonsand auxiliary mal full release position; v

laving now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by'Letters Patent. is

1. A triple valve device comprisinga casing containing a piston subjectto variations in train pipe pressure, and a graduating valve actuated bysaid piston for controlling valves to the" northe supply of fluid to thebrake cylinder and the release from the brake cylinder, the graduatmgvalve having anormal full release position and an inner retarded releaseposition, and a yieldingresistance 1 means carried the moving parts ofthe triple valve device and acting to oppose the movement of saidgraduating-valvefrom its full release position to its retarded releaseposition.

2. A triple valve device comprising 2. casing containing a pistonsubject to variations in train pipe pressure, a valve actuated by saidpiston for controlling the supply of fluid to the brake cylinder and therelease from the brake cylinder, said valve having a normal full releaseposition and an inner retarded release position, and a spring carried bythe moving parts of the triple valve device and tending to move the samefrom the retarded release position to the normal r'ull release position.

3. A triple valve device comprising a easing containing a valvemechanism composed of a piston and slide valve for controlling a brakecylinder service port and a brake cylinder exhaust port, said valvehaving a normal full release position and an inner retarded releaseposition, and yielding resistance means carried by said valve mechanismfor opposing the movement of the same from its full release position toits retarded release position.

4-. A triple valve device comprising a casing containing a valvemechanism composed oi a piston and slide valve for controlling thesupply to and the release from the brake cylinder, said valve having anormal full release position and an inner retarded release position, anda spring carried by said valve mechanism and tending to move the samefrom its retarded release position to its full release position.

5. In a triple valve device, a valve mechanism comprising a pistonsubject to variations in train pipe pressure, a main valve,

and a graduating valve mounted on the main valve operated by said pistonfor controlling the supply of fluid to and the release from the brakecylinder, said graduating valve raving a normal full release positionand a retarded release position, a spring carried by said valvemechanism and tending to move the graduating valve from its retardedrelease position to full release position, and a fixed stop for engagingone end of the pring in full release position.

6. In a triple valve device, a main valve, an auxiliary valve and pistonhaving a movement relative to the main valve for controlling the releasefrom the brake cylinder and a spring acting between the main valve andthe piston to oppose the movement of the latter and the auxiliary valvefrom a normal full release position to an inner retarded releaseposition.

7. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination with a piston subject tovariations in train pipe pressure and valve means op- Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the erated bysaid piston and having a full release position and a retarded releaseposition, of means for opposing the movement of said valve means to theretarded release position comprising a spring carried by the piston, arelatively movable member engaging one end of the spring and havinglateral projections adapted to engage stops in full release position tothereby prevent movement thereof from full to retarded re leaseposition.

8. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination With a piston subject tovariations in train pipe pressure and valve means operated by saidpiston and having a full release position and a retarded releaseposition, of means for opposing the movement of said valve means to theretarded release position comprising a spring carried by the piston, arelatively movable member engaging one end of the spring, sad lateralprojections on said member adapted to engage stops in the full releaseposition to thereby effect the compression of the spring in the movementof the parts from full to retarded release position.

9. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination with a piston subject tovariations in train pipe pressure, a main valve having a full releaseposition, and an auxiliary valve having a full release and a retardedrelease position, both valves being operated by said piston, of a fixedstop for limiting the movement of the main valve at the full releaseposition, a spring carried by said piston, a movable member for engagingsaid spring, and stops carried by the main valve for engaging saidmovable member to thereby compress the spring in the movement of thepiston and auxiliary valve from full to retarded release position.

10. In a fluid pressure brake, the combination With a train pipe andbrake cylinder, of a triple valve device comprising a piston, a mainslide valve, and an auxiliary valve having a movement relative to saidmain valve, for controlling the release from the brake cylinder, saidauxiliary valve having a full release position and a retarded releaseposition, and a yielding resistance spring carried by the triple valvepiston for opposing the movement of said auxiliary valve from the fullrelease to the retarded release position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER V. TURNER.

Witnesses R. F. EMERY, A. M. CLEMENTS.

Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

